But Did The Rest of the Voyage Match the Cabin Experience? Welcome to DFDS Aura, Klaipeda to Kiel...
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- čas přidán 22. 12. 2023
- The route was long and boring, so a cabin upgrade just had to happen! But was it worth the money? Join me on this Baltic adventure to find out!
Filmed on Tue/Wed 14th/15th November 2023 on the Baltic Sea
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Map courtesy of Google Maps
Thumbnail designed using Canva
This video is not sponsored and all opinions are my own
I don’t pretend to be a travel expert, but I love what I do and would be honoured if you came along with me. My channel focusses on the wide-eyed wonder and excitement of finding somewhere new, and my genuine reaction to it. You may not get a history lesson in my videos, but who knows, you might pick up some useful travel tips along the way, add a few destinations to your bucket list and hopefully be entertained by what you see. Thanks for watching, it means a lot to me :)
I do ALL of this myself. Planning, filming, editing, promoting, all with a weekly upload schedule, so please understand not every video will be an epic adventure. But my pledge is to always do my best in any situation and KEEP THE CAMERA ROLLING :)
Donate here to future videos: (thank you!)
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FAQs:
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I was born in Glasgow but have lived in Carnoustie, Dalgety Bay, Stonehaven, Edinburgh, Montrose, and further afield (Salamanca, Spain & Devonport, New Zealand)
WHEN DO YOU UPLOAD?
Saturdays at 10am Scottish time. Occasionally a bonus midweek video will pop up.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I film with a GoPro11 and my iPhone12. I edit on iMovie and use epidemicsound.com for music. I also use canva.com for thumbnails etc.
WHY DON'T YOU SPEND LONGER AT DESTINATIONS?
The usual suspects I'm afraid - time and money! Hotels especially these days make my eyes water like a true Scotsman.
WHERE'S ALICJA?
Alicja will feature whenever possible, but she has her own life and a proper job so it can take a while for our schedules to match up. Trust me though, I prefer it when She is there too!
DO YOU PAY FOR YOUR OWN TRAVEL?
Yes I do. I've only ever accepted a complementary ticket as compensation for a previous problem. All my opinions are frank and honest reflections of travel as I experience it.
WHY THE ADS?
It's my income, I can't do this for free.
CAN I CONTACT YOU?
I used to list my email address but felt bad not having the capacity to respond to everything so took it down (and I got a LOT of spam so missed many genuine messages along the way).
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?
Watching my videos is of course support enough, but if you'd like to support further, I'll pop links below for Paypal and Patreon. All kind donations are super-appreciated and will go 100% towards future filming trips.
DO YOU ACCEPT SPONSORSHIPS?
I don't like to upset the flow of my videos, so I don't even include mid-roll ads anymore (at significant loss of income to myself), so I prefer not to include sponsorships either. I'm open to a small slide at the start/end of each video, but I don't want to get into talking about products, it's something I don't like as a viewer myself (especially as a viewer who pays for CZcams Premium). So it's probably a polite no, although all of this goes out the window if you offer me something which can give me the chance to make a video for my audience that would otherwise be impossible.
#SteveMarsh #Ferry #DFDS
Oh you lucky man what an exhilarating journey despite your expectations not being quite met. I'm 73 years old and not as fit as I used to be, but your videos inspire me to get out there and start adventurising again! Cheers Steve and seasons greetings to you and Alicja.
Thanks so much mate and wishing you a Merry Christmas!!!
Oh a lovely breakfast z
Some ferries have excellent public transport on both sides. For 2.5 years I travelled Hook of Holland Harwich back every 3 weeks while writing software for banks & Brexit.
I quit this blogger cos he moved away from UK places, now he’s uploading several strange places I’m not interested,I really mind British staff
Who is alicja?
I think you do the most informative and entertaining ferry videos on CZcams. What a great journey!
Mate THANK YOU! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, see you in January!
Yours aren't bad either, Scott
£193 was a great price for that cabin and the meals, Steve👍
I have an Autoimmune Neuro Muscular condition which makes traveling no longer an option. I greatly enjoy traveling vicariously through you. I am most Grateful. Thank you and may God continue to guide your travels.
When you consider the price of sleeper trains (and what you get for the price) I think this looks incredible value. Pretty big distance covered too, and the food and room looked great.
@@JR-nv4td Its been my experience when you FLY you get there and back home quicker, and thus spend more days and nights at an expensive hotel. Every night on a train or ship is one LESS night at an expensive hotel. Considering both trains and ships provide transportation as well as a bed for the night, usually with food included, by the time you consider all of the costs, flying doesn't necessarily win...
I love you different journeys you do they are so interesting and informative
2:36 Thanks for keeping alive the earliest mode of transportation humans used. As much as I love the convenience of a car, having the option to walk somewhere is so much better!
Hah well said!!!
That looked like a really comfortable journey Steve. Nice calm sea, enough food, comfy bed and a shower, what more could you ask for. The price was well worth it for such a spacious cabin. This is giving me ideas for my next trip.
Yeah, that cabin made a pretty basic trip a really good one!
Fantastic cabin and I thought the ship was pretty nice. It's been a wonderful year of content from you (a weekly highlight and right up there as a favourite channel). Seasons greetings to you and Alicja, I hope you have a wonderful time. Here's to more adventures in 2024. I can't wait.
Peter thanks for that and for coming along on all these adventures! All the best for Christmas and New Year!
I don’t blame you in the slightest about your breakfast, you should have got two fried eggs though😊. All the best from England.
We took this route with a doggo a few years ago and this route was very dog friendly! We were able to walk about with the dog all over the ship and all the staff were happy to see us. While the route between Nethetlands and UK is advertised much more as a 'pet friendly' route, but we were locked in a tiny area and not free to walk about at all 😅
Kiel to Klaipeda is more of a cargo route.
They now have dog friendly cabins on the Harwich Hook of Holland route. Before that using the kennels was required. The outdoor walking space for dogs is limited.
We have the same kennel at home as Stena used. Our Malinois broke it and bent the door. No idea about the IJmuiden to Newcastle route.
I certainly want to ferry again to the UK but for fun, not for work.
193 GBP (€222) sounds like a steep price, but this is a pretty long trip and the accommodation looks like an equivalent of a top 1st or business class on a train which would probably cost an equivalent high amount of money for a comparable long service. Also, for some reason I see this cabin advertised for €300 Eur one way, so you definitely got a bargain price.
That seemed like the perfect ferry for one of those "mid-vacation, I'm exhausted" days - relax, rest and recharge. I really hope the weather the next day is sunny - we were in Kiel after arriving on a ferry from Gothenburg and thought it was lovely.
Oh, that's a nice cabin!
That hotel room, and the wallpaper is fabulous! I'm a wee bit jealous - I can't afford to go travelling, but your videos allow me to see a bit more of the world than I would otherwise have done
The white cliffs were most likely the "Königsstuhl" (literally: royal chair) on the island of Rügen 😉.
Cheers for this!
My guess would have been Bornholm (DK), but that's assuming Steve was on the right side of the ship when looking at those cliffs, I'm not entirely sure of that, though.
14:21 Cold? It looks positively Baltic! 😉
Not sure about that 8-bit carpet throughout though; it does funny things to your eyes! 😵💫😂
Haha beautiful! :)
perfect for hiding small stains
I always think of all that food they put out for hardly any passengers, seems like loads of waste.
I envy your levels of fitness, walking miles as you do. Thanks for all the interesting vlogs and have a Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏼☃️🎁🎄
Thoroughly enjoyed that, cabin looked great. Have been working my way through your other videos, very enjoyable and entertaining. I prefer these sort of travel videos compared to the ones that only show first class trips and experiences that most people can't afford, yours are more realistic and fun to watch. Merry Christmas to you and Alijca
Merry Christmas - have a wonderful festive break.
You tooooo! Thanks :)
I for one am glad to see you treating yourself to a non-horrible accommodation. You should do that more often. Great video. And Happy Christmas!
Think i would have sat in a pub in Klaipeda. Entertaining as ever though!
The ship's bathrooms being small is not such a bad thing, actually. Lots of handles in range and corners you can lock your feet into. Imagine the situation in storms! 🤔 Nobody wants to crash doing business, right?
Another gem from the Marsh video studios! Much enjoyed! 🤗
Haha good point!
I just love to travel with you! Interesting and beautiful scenery. Keep it up!😊
Loved this video as I’m a big fan of sailing no matter the weather. The Ferry looked very comfortable, quiet but I image in the summer months it would be busier and more lively.
Thanks for keeping us entertained with all your videos this year , wishing you and Alijca a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thanks for another year of great videos.complements of the season.all the best for 2024.
Me too, best way to travel😅.
I’ve never been on a ship with a cabin, so I don’t know anything about what the rooms usually look like, but that is amazing! Looks like a great alternative to taking the train to Kiel. It looks more relaxing. Great video, thanks again Steve!
I’m always amused at how differently eating utensils are used between Europe and the US. I noticed when Steve was eating breakfast. I know that Steve says he has “dodgy knees” but he sure does a ton of walking for a guy with bad knees.
Thats what keeps the knees working
Merry Christmas to you both. You did well on the cost. Must’ve been so nice to have such a comfortable retreat onboard to yourself. The food certainly looked edible, and kudos to you for staying so active. Looking forward to the next one!
I wish we had ferries like that here in the U.S. It would be a great mini-vacation. I'm with you, I'd want to spend some time out on the weather decks. Thanks for sharing the experience with us.
only places that are long enough are the Portland to Halifax and the Seattle to Alaska ferries, the rest are pointless…
I thought the female announcer said they would be collecting "dead women" from the cabins! On replay turns out it's "bed linen" they were after! Very interesting video as always. Thank you Steve.
"...hanging -room"...--no comment! I swear I heard the hyphen!
Worth it for a good night’s sleep. Look forward to more travels in the new year.
Merry Christmas 💚🎄♥️ everyone!
And to youuuuu! :)
I always enjoy your ferries' videos, I love the sea and I'm fascinated by these big giants of the sea. Thank you Steve! Have a Merry Christmas!!
Hey you too Laura! It's such a nice relaxing way to travel :)
Seasons greeting to you and Alicija, thank you for your wonderful and inspiring travel journeys, just wish i had found your channel while i was still able to travel, now it is only virtually. Looking forward to new and exciting places in 2024, but dont forget Scotland because these are my favourites.
Thanks so much for watching these wee adventures! And wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Seemed a perfectly good experience but I was wondering where everybody else was? Makes a change from everything being rammed.
Aye it was a nice change to be honest :)
Cool shot of the U-boat at Kiel! What a great vlog - really interesting.
@
SteveMarsh
Just found your channel a few days ago and have been binge watching your videos,you hardly ever complain and just take the rough with the smooth,just like a tough Scot does!
Now thats what i call farry..very nice
What a lovely site* this is.
*If that’s the right word.
You can’t go wrong with Chicken Schnitzel 😊
The design of the cabin floor is freaking me out. It looks like you pixelated it :)
Full credit to those truckers, see how close they are? That's some talented maneuvere. Happy, happy Christmas to truckers, everywhere.
I enjoy watching your videos because you are quite humorous and entertaining. Nice one next video please.
Thanks Steve, all the very best for Christmas and New year 👍.
The cabin seemed well worth the money, especially with the meal ticket as well. When you factor in travel, either air or rail, hotel and meals it's a pretty decent deal, if you accept it's an A to B fprm of transport. If you were travelling as a 'normal' traveller rather than a guide / presenter (not a criticism btw) you could have a chill out day, very relaxing. Hope you both have a nice Christmas.
Great shout! Merry Christmas
For a nice cabin and three reasonable meals, I think £193 is pretty good.
Very much enjoy all your videos, btw.
If you want to see an amazing one, I'd go look at the silja symphony ship!
In the Navy, the only sailors that can whistle are the cooks as it proved they were not eating the food. Great cabin. Happy Chtistmas.
Great info! Cheers Elaine!
All those port entrances for foot passengers look pretty much the same 😉
The cabin was great, and the food looked nice! I just had lunch but some Polish or Baltic Sauerkraut soup would not be rejected 🤣🤣
I choose to watch your travelogues later in the evening so your review of sleeping accommodations is a big hit for me because I’m about to go to bed. I’m always glad to hear you say that you’re going to “turn in” for the night given that you’ve paid good 💰 for your bed. Impressive comfortable ship ….stateroom was spacious with two good sized windows and a good sized bed. I love the sea so yeah … this was fun to watch. Thanks for taking us along. Collecting video is work so we appreciate the effort.
Happy New Year 🥳
Canada’s Eastern Seaboard 🇨🇦
Don't be shy about your meal sizes mate. Eat hearty and travel lightly. Cheers for the great video
Have a great Xmas Steve (not forgetting Alicja too of course)! Thx for all the interesting videos this year and here's looking forward to more adventures in 2024... Meanwhile, still trying to work out how that guy at 5:20 managed to steer that container onto the ferry without being able to see where he was going! Elf & Safety gone mad!!!
Oh dear 🙈
Ey a ferry video out of nowhere?! Thanks Steve! 🙏🙌
Haha cheers mate!
another time you've got me planning. Love a ferry too. atb for 2024.
Haha so many routes over the Baltic, there will be more :) All the best to you too!
Coffee at 9:30pm, that ship sailed for me a long time ago. 😂 A great, informative and entertaining video, as always.
I think that weird truck reversing into the tight spot at 5:40 was actually one belonging to the harbour so the semi trailer went without a truck. That means there was another tractor/truck waiting at Kiel for it. Presumably cheaper ferry fee.
Oh, Kiel port, right around the corner! Hope you had a pleasant stay :)
Really enjoy different places you go
7:38 Carsberg really do cabins ❤
I’m not a Ferry Person Steve…couldn’t do what you do…thanks for the great content though…Have a Magical Christmas..! 😇
You too!!!! I find it such a relaxing way to travel :)
I love watching your videos! XX I liked the wallpaper too! X
that’s definitely a helipad, and from the look of things you got lucky to have the bigger and newer ship Aura than the older, smaller Regina
and that was a HUGE cabin! i guess they chose to not bother squeezing in more cabins when they’re not going to fill them…that left a lot of space for a family to spread out, thankfully for you it was comfortable enough to get a solid amount of sleep and function
The space was such a luxury, loved it!
I remember dfds ferries ..going across the northsea.didn’t end well.
Another great trip most enjoyable and thank you, I find the worst part about traveling is the waiting around it would be so nice to arrive an hour before to be told that you can board and your cabin is ready, one day maybe, cheers and all the best.
I get a nice surprise like that on my next ferry video (in a few weeks)
Wow Steve, you coped very well before and during the ferry trip to Kiel. I get stressed planning a trip to London! The ferry looked massive, cabin fine(yeah should've had at least a kettle), meals looked OK as well. Very impressed with all that walking you did! Seasons greetings to you both and a happy and successful 2024! Great vlog, thanks for sharing. 👍 😊
Cheers Alan, thanks for coming along on all these adventures in '23 here's to another great year to come. Merry Christmas!
Very, almost eerily quiet ferry, with not much to do onboard that you didn't bring with you like books or a laptop and tablet. No spa or gym, which seems odd given the size of the ferry and the duration of most trips on it. They could easily fit a decent number of exercise bikes, treadmills, weights, etc., with showers for use by non-cabin passengers, on it, and cover the costs by charging for use. Also not much in the way of snacks in-between meals. And what's with breakfast starting at 9am? At least there's a bar which hopefully has some light snacks, various lounges, and that gift shop. The cabin is really nice though.
Another great video , Steve. Merry Christmas to Alicja and yourself from Australia.
And to you Richard! Thank You!
I’m brand new here just 3rd vid in. I like this channel. Relaxing with all the chaos and turmoil today. SUBBED
Steve, I think what you paid was well worth it. Beautiful room!!
Ah, Kiel, my wonderful hometown. Hope you had a jolly look at it. It's a lot nicer than it looks upon arriving by that particular ferry. Getting around the water can be a bit of a trek though.
Ah unfortunately not, but I do make a wee trip out to somewhere that peaked my interest :)
That was pretty cool Steve. I've stayed in much worse hotel rooms than your ferry cabin, and although your grub was standard swag, you certainly got your money's worth! Merry Christmas to you and your good lady 😊
Haha I'll ALWAYS get my money's worth at a buffet :D Have a great Christmas guys! So many trips for you to look forward to in 2024!
@@steve-marsh yeah Málaga next month for starters 👍
If you download the maps for a particular region on to your phone, Google maps will work even if there is no wifi or mobile network. I think I have pointed this out to you some time ago.
You are not the first one to do 10000 steps on the ship, you are the ONLY one.
Fantastic video. Enjoyed every moment. This old sea dog will enjoy any marine related video. 😊😊
Steve needed to work off the big breakfast he had so could fit in his clothes.
Among the passengers, sure, but I wouldn't bet on the crew members, especially those who were up all night. Still an impressive feat to walk 10 thousand steps in with mobility somewhat restrained, though.
GPS inside that metal box might have a hard time getting a fix. outside it will work.
DFDS have some pretty good looking ships and services.
They're one of the largest Danish ship companies, and used to have routes to North and South America.
The cabin is huge ! Meant for two people so I'd better come along with you next time 😆😆😂
At a 193 quid, with that cabin and 3 meals included plus a near full 24 hrs crossing. .id say yes its worth it!
I've always wanted to do the ferry thing!
Such a relaxing way to travel!
Most enjoyable thank you
great video Steve, your google maps timeline must be a sight to behold 🙂
Merry Christmas and a safe comfortable and Prosperous New Year, I'm off on Panama Canal cruise January 4th, 14 nights no "roughing-it" for me. THANKS for your hard work and entertaining content.... Cheers from Arizona, M&M.
Oh that sounds amazing! Would be such an interesting cruise! Enjoy every minute :)
Totally enjoyed this!
Thank You!
Oh, don't forget to avail of the personal TV screen on the seat back in front of you! Multiple Czech movies to while the hours away 😊
You bring back memories of winter ferries. I loved the coolness of cabins with the quiet drone of the ship’s engines to help me sleep.
I just wish DFDS would connect Scotland to their Nordic and Baltic services across the North Sea, it's mind boggling that they have a ferry east-west across a route that is parallel to rail & road, while we have to go to Newcastle (at best) or a channel port to get back north on the other side of the North Sea.
Remember the ferries from Aberdeen to Oslo & Bergen?
My first cycling tours in the UK started with the ferry Prince Hamlet from Gothenburg to Newcastle. And the second one ended with a return ferry from Harwich to Gothenburg. None of those connections have been around for many years now. 😢
Yup - love the fish wallpaper! Merry Christmas and a Happy, Adventurous New Year.
Merry Christmas to you too!
😮 wow what a cabin ✅ I thought it was a great bargain great to be spoilt lol I can see why you're doing all the steps Steve with all that grub you had m8 looked good 👍 well my friend merry Xmas to you and Alice 🌲 take care both of you all the best John 😊😊
entertaining and informative video.🥳🥳 Thanks.
Wonderfull stuff steve long journey 4u you must been twiddling your thumbs at times good stuff hotel on water hope you had brilliant Christmas look forward too more g8 content in 2024 cheers
I would definitely be enj8ying that cabin! I usually have at least one bit of knitting with me, so would get myself a cuppa somewhere, and then sit on the bed knitting - enjoying my view.
The lack of a kettle is almost 100% down to this being a Danish vessel - we don't really do tea-making equipment in hotels, let alone ferries.
The white cliffs are quite prevalent around the Baltic Sea - my guess is the ones you saw are on the island of Rügen.
Happy Christmas - and lots of good sailing in 2024.
Another interesting video Steve. That certainly was a large ferry and your cabin looked very comfortable. My wife and I always enjoy your adventures and it's great that you highlight the negative aspects of your travels. I guess that's real life and your honesty is appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you and Alicja a very Happy Christmas, a safe festive season and an excellent 2024.
Nice accommodation. Nice ship. That carpeting is a shocker, though.
I
Was on the dfds ferry to Amsterdam in the summer .
The buffet was superb , I couldn’t believe the choice of food .
Would definitely do it again .
Edit : I thought you were talking mince when you said we will be sailing past a bit of Russia .
I had to look it on a map , there is a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania that I had never heard of .
Everyday is a school day !
German Königsberg was split between Poland and the USSR after WW2. And as Kaliningrad the Soviet part was retained by the Russian Federation.
@Carrera-gp9od I’m not much good at Geography but became a bit concerned when some Polish friends began looking awkward and uncomfortable with the current Russia/Ukraine conflict…I never asked what was troubling them but they are obviously seriously worried about things escalating, other friends in different nearby countries are also a bit distressed…my geography has improved a lot and I hope things settle soon for everyone..! Merry Christmas 😇
Love your videos. Very informative :-)
Brilliant choice not watching the news I haven't watched the news in about 4 years it's Brilliant for you're mental health
So true mate!
I felt as if I travelled with you on the ferry.
Long time since I've been able to comment but am finally able to sit at my computer comfortably. We've been watching all your videos and enjoying them thoroughly. I've had a bad bout of sciatica since early October so have been out of the You Tube loop as far as being able to even type on my phone. I think I'm coming out the other side finally. We really wanted to wish you both a very Merry Christmas and the best New Year! We're looking forward to more great travel videos in 2024 and appreciate all the hard work it takes to deliver such great content! Stay safe and maybe next October we might even make it to the UK. All the best! 🎄 Janice & Brent, from a sunny but cold PEI
So glad you are on the mend and wishing you both a peaceful (and pain free!) Christmas and New Year. Thanks so much for your support and for coming along on these wee random adventures, you comment is very appreciated :)
Wow that cabin is great.
Hi Steve Great video, cabin was superb.Hope that you are getting blown away again. We have had 3/4 days of it since we came back from a short break over Christmas. Seems to be starting again weather warnings.Have a good New Year all the best. Regards Crawford.
Onya mate, have a cracking Christmas & stay warm 🔥, from DownUnder Australia where it’s currently bucketing down 😮
Love this! I would love to travel like you in a lux cabin with a good book and bring my own kettle :0) Thanks Steve
Excellent! Well braved! 👍
Thanks for another great video. Have a Happy Christmas to you and yours.